Kent marshlands could become UK's nuclear dumping ground

The sleepy wetland area of Romney Marsh could become the UK's nuclear dumping ground, with a
multi-billion pound disposal facility buried up to a kilometre deep
underground.

The UK government's Department
of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has asked counties and
communities around Britain to "express an interest" in having
nuclear waste buried deep beneath their soil.

The Shepway District Council -- a local government authority in
Kent -- wants to offer Romney Marsh for the job. It says it could
bring jobs to the area, once the decommissioned Dungeness A and B
power stations are shut down this decade.

The community will face a lost of 1,000 jobs when the plants are
closed, and a local economic slump of £46 million a year.

The proposed £12bn facility would conduct nuclear research at
ground level, with a complex of offices, transportation links and
other facilities. Underground, 200m to 1,000m beneath the surface,
vaults and tunnels would be used to store the waste.

The nuclear waste would be stored in secure containers buried
within the rock, and the facility would be permanently sealed when
it is full to the brim. Two train-loads of nuclear waste would be transported into the area every week for
up to 80 years.

Reaction from local councils has been mixed. Kent County Council
leader Paul Carter said, "I would like to make our position
abundantly clear. Kent County Council is totally opposed to initiating any process that even entertains
the possibility of building a nuclear waste disposal site anywhere
near or around Kent.

"We will do everything possible to oppose this unviable proposal
and will use every 'tool in the box' to bring an end to this
scheme."

"These nuclear waste stores should be in remote areas," argued
Carter. "It is utter madness to do so in a relatively densely
populated area. It is also equally irresponsible to consider
constructing such a gigantic facility in an area which is both an
earthquake zone and one of the busiest shipping lanes in the
world."

Shepway's David Godfrey said: "The
council does not have a formal view about whether the Marsh should
host a Nuclear Research and Disposal Facility. Our only view is
that local people should be given the opportunity to decide for
themselves if it is worth discussing the idea further."

As such, local town and parish councils are being informed and a
series of exhibitions will get underway on 24 May. If the Marsh
community gives positive feedback to the idea, the council will
submit an official Expression of Interest to DECC.